interface
Americannoun
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a surface regarded as the common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases.
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the facts, problems, considerations, theories, practices, etc., shared by two or more disciplines, procedures, or fields of study.
the interface between chemistry and physics.
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a common boundary or interconnection between systems, equipment, concepts, or human beings.
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communication or interaction.
Interface between the parent company and its subsidiaries has never been better.
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a thing or circumstance that enables separate and sometimes incompatible elements to coordinate effectively.
The organization serves as an interface between the state government and the public.
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computer hardware or software designed to communicate information between hardware devices, between software programs, between devices and programs, or between a device and a user.
verb (used with object)
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to bring into an interface.
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to bring together; connect or mesh.
The management is interfacing several departments with an information service from overseas.
verb (used without object)
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to be in an interface.
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to function as an interface.
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to meet or communicate directly; interact, coordinate, synchronize, or harmonize (often followed bywith ).
The two communications systems are able to interface with each other.
noun
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chem a surface that forms the boundary between two bodies, liquids, or chemical phases
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a common point or boundary between two things, subjects, etc
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an electrical circuit linking one device, esp a computer, with another
verb
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(tr) to design or adapt the input and output configurations of (two electronic devices) so that they may work together compatibly
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to be or become an interface (with)
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to be or become interactive (with)
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The point of interaction or communication between a computer and any other entity, such as a printer or human operator.
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The layout of an application's graphic or textual controls in conjunction with the way the application responds to user activity.
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See more at GUI
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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interfacesimple
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interfacessimple
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have interfacedperfect
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has interfacedperfect
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am interfacingprogressive
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are interfacingprogressive
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is interfacingprogressive
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have been interfacingperfect progressive
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has been interfacingperfect progressive
Past
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interfacedsimple
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had interfacedperfect
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was interfacingprogressive
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were interfacingprogressive
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had been interfacingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of interface
Explanation
Think of an interface as a "face-to-face," a place where things, or people, or people and things (like you and your computer) meet. Any common boundary or area of convergence can be an interface. Used as a verb, interface means to merge or mingle, bonding and synthesizing by communicating and working together. The word interface is comprised of the prefix inter, which means "between," and face. In the 1960's, when computers first began to be commonly used, the word became familiar and now can simply mean “to meet.” Although "Shall we interface over coffee?" still feels a bit awkward.
Vocabulary lists containing interface
Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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Computer Science and Technology - High School
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They Both Die at the End
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Some, like Myreader, let users upload any book, whether or not it's under copyright, and then connect it to an AI interface.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Multiply that by orders of magnitude when a wildfire crossing an urban interface is left unchecked.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
"This gives us insight into the interface between the virus and the human cell and may, through structural modeling, help identify actionable targets for future pharmaceutical interventions."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
In these independent benchmarks, external, Kimi K3 ranked first in web interface engineering, outperforming Anthropic's Fable system, external in blind human-preference tests.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
There was a computer interface there, which Citra used for her studies—because unlike Faraday, Scythe Curie did not shun the digital when it came to learning.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
The L1 addresses that by integrating speakers directly into a reshaped cabinet that already carries an angle built into its design, reducing the number of interfaces in the chain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Complex interfaces let users browse match offerings, make selections and proceed through checkout.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
ACI Europe wants any technical issues such as "instability of the central IT system and national interfaces" addressed, as well as border staffing levels.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
The processor includes central processing units, computational offloads, advanced networking systems, memory, and input/output interfaces.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026
The only hints of modernization were a few simple computer interfaces in unobtrusive corners.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Even the Cylons changed their tune as they interfaced with the survivors more frequently, shifting their aim from destruction to occupation.
From Salon ● May 5, 2026
So to suddenly have Guillermo show up, and that was the way that we really first interfaced.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025
Typically, a rigid material like silicon is chiseled down to the nanoscale, then interfaced with other components like metal electrodes and insulating layers to form an active device.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 9, 2023
The code is interfaced with online notices from ERCOT, triggering servers to power down during times of extreme energy shortages.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 8, 2021
“I can do more than just see. The NeuroLink has always interfaced with the human brain,” Hideo continues.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
He said the date ended with a shared realization: “We’re not interfacing well.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026
In our experience, seamless connecting and no cables cluttering the center console are reasons enough to insist on wireless smartphone interfacing.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 26, 2025
The department’s interfacing with federal authorities will be among the many issues that the Police Commission is counting on Barragan to help monitor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2025
So… why is Antonio Banderas interfacing with someone in Macho Man cosplay for a Bosch commercial?
From Slate ● Feb. 10, 2025
I mean, it’s sweet that he thinks I can keep up with his thoughts on the approaching technological singularity and human-machine interfacing, but yeah.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
